roversfan99

The squad definitely was built for a 4231 rather than a back 3 so some issues in terms of the squad build relate to a squad built for a different formation, and some are just poor recruitment. I dont see that back 3/4 keeping clean sheets like last seasons back 4 did, purely on quality. But yes, Carter is beyond just injury prone. Our issues of cover in this position are mainly because we sold Hyam and simply didnt replace him. If we had kept him then we would have a bit of cover and more balance and quality there. We also signed 2 right backs, one is an excellent wing back, one is needed in the middle. We need a right wing back and at least one if not two centre backs. In midfield, the issues relate to who we signed as we would be playing 2 midfielders either way. Tavares has been very poor, Baradji is a waste of time. TGH is a certain downgrade on Travis, I think hes a useful player to have, would be a good squad player. But the issue in this position is whats beyond the main 2. Up front, we expected to play one up front, now we play 2 we have no cover. Thats definitely just a result of building a squad for one formation and then changing. We do have players in Ribeiro and Pickering who dont fit into the current formation which youd expect, if you build a squad for one formation then change to another, you will have the odd player that falls through the cracks. So in regards to issue with depth. Defence is down to selling a key player and pocketing the money. Midfield is down to poor recruitment. Up front down to the formation change.

I did enjoy the win. I commented as such soon after the game that it was a good win and overall a good performance. A few players in particular I really praised. Notably Gudjohnsen who I felt was a different player yesterday. The post you quoted was off the back of a discussion about the squad. The team we played yesterday is competitive. The issues I forsee down the line come when you peel beyond that team as the fixtures pile up, has been the case before for us and will likely happen again. I can have these thoughts on the squad whilst still enjoying the win, the post you quoted wasnt my immediate takeaway from the game.

Todays side is certainly very competitive at this level, even allowing for a defence that still doesnt convince me and often a lack of quality both on the ball and in the final third often with poor decision making. The issue as has often been the case will likely be seen in a couple of months. The squad is not far off fully fit, Carter is out but he isnt a serious footballer anymore, Cantwell is obviously a big miss and Baradji is a total unknown who we signed knowingly with a serious injury. Even still, look how weak our bench was. Those 3 defenders are our only ones that can play 90 minutes without instantly breaking down, but at some point one will get an injury or a suspension, before even considering quality/form. We have 2 options at left wing back but dont really have an alternative to the excellent Alebiosu. TGH is unconvincing, but beyond him and Tronstad who are already 1 game from a ban, you have options of Forshaw, Tavares and Montgomery. Exactly. Neither Miroshita or Henriksson has put a strong claim forward although Cantwell is an obvious pick there. And up top, we have only 2 options for 2 positions.

I cant refuse to accept a viewpoint that hasnt been explained.

Really important win against a Leicester side seemingly in crisis, and one we won fairly comfortably in the end with a good overall performance. There are concerns in every area still really. Defensively, it still feels like every player is capable of mistakes. Wharton always makes a couple basically every game, McLoughlin is similar, Miller is similar. Theyll chuck their bodies on the line but will give the ball away sloppily or be turned and pulled apart at times. The clean sheet was really important today, incredible save by Toth who is certainly one of our most important players. Its not an issue just in midfield, more so an issue with technical ability across the team but we really struggle to keep the ball and make simple passes at time. And in the final third, too often the quality is lacking. The 2 strikers today were much better though, Ohashi was a pest and the 2 finishes by Gudjohnsen and parts of his general play were really impressive. I do think that the current formation does suit a few of our players but it begs the question, why did we not recruit for it properly? Seems to have been stumbled upon by accident. Alebiosu really is fantastic and suits being a wing back, De Neve (was decent today and surprised he was subbed) suits being a wing back, the defenders probably benefit from a third player and the 2 strikers have question marks as a lone striker but as a pair can pose more problems working together. We do need one or two defenders to come straight into the starting 111, we also have no cover and we have no cover up top too, Gueye isnt a serious option. Was against the idea last season and it would never happen but I wonder if giving a contract to Bamford would be a reasonable idea just to have another decent option.

Why does it "suit" some clubs to hire based purely on nostalgia?

On the ball we have been so poor, the technical ability and intelligence across the team is so low, we can barely make a 5 yard pass. But the front 2 have been a danger and we I think needed to kill the game when we sensed blood after goal. Gudjohnsen is a hard player to figure out. Id say thats his best 45 minutes in a Rovers shirt, nice finish and some of his hold up play has been a level or 2 above what I have seen so far, last weeks goal seems to have given him confidence. But there have been bits of poor play within there too, being too weak and that sloppy pass to Ohashi at the end. Ohashi has been better this week so far too, theyve posed problems. There are worries beyond that, Wharton again feels like a mistake waiting to happen and I think Henriksson needs to come off before he is sent off. The next goal is key, we cant afford to throw away another lead and Leicester have been poor and the crowd is on their back.

Of course its generic cliches. O'Neill hasnt even been at the club for 20 years, he hasnt been a manager at all for 6 years. I dont see how the Dunn comparison is any different. If Ismael was to be sacked, he fits the exact same criteria that you are championing at other clubs.

They put a picture up this morning of this months fixtures with Hull instead of the correct fixture of QPR. I dont think a day has gone by this week without them having to correct an error in a social media post.

Hes totally out of touch with modern football, hes not managed for a while since a few really poor jobs he did most recently in his career. At the end of day, Celtic might go on to do well but their team is built on resources well beyond anything else up there. What is this nonsense about "knowing the club?" Its just generic cliches and rubbish. Why dont all clubs just appoint former legends? Surely we should appoint David Dunn next as he knows the club, what it means to the supporters and whatever similar rubbish you want to throw at it? Rangers missed a trick not appointing Gazza.

How many points did we get for playing fairly well in one half of a game? And we lost 2 nil, how can that strengthen the idea that we go to Leicester and win comfortably.

When we failed to score and then went on to lose by 2 goals?

Sorry, you are right. Although that feels like a long time ago and crucially we had Hyam in the team and Hull's squad had been struck down by illness. Either way, there seems very little to suggest that we will go to Leicester and win comfortably.

What have you seen to suggest we could win this "fairly comfortably?" None of our wins have been comfortable.

He cannot claim to be hard done by. The squad he seemingly had a big say in wasnt designed for this formation. Carter has been a total write off due to injuries for a couple of years. We came into the season without sufficient cover and quality at centre back even if we were playing a back 4. Baradji we signed with them knowing he was going to be out for months. Garrett wasnt part of the first team, he wouldnt be playing anyway. Tavares presumably was signed to play and is shit. Up front, we came into the season with Ohashi, we signed Gudjohnsen and Gueye was not seen as a serious option. 2 strikers for 2 positions isnt enough.

Fans are as disengaged as ever after having the piss out of us by the owners and board, struggling, dinner time kick off on sky. Our fanbase doesnt deserve stick for a potentially lower than usual turn out away at Leicesrer.

Miller 2nd and Wharton 6th above Toth down in 8th. Yeah, pointless.

Why do you always use whether Ismael rates someone or not as an argument? People are giving their own opinions. In this case I agree with you that Gueye shouldnt play, he is awful. But just because the manager (one with a pitiful record) does something or believes something doesnt nullify the opinion.

Dont let the silly antics fool you. Gueye doesn't display any passion when he comes on in a huff and cant be bothered putting in 100%.

Gueye does not warrant a run of games. Had plenty last season and was shit. I think that relationship has somewhat faded now people have realised how bad he is and how when he comes on he doesnt even give his all.

He did do a very good job last season to be fair after the mess of Gary O'Neil.

Recruitment was crap full stop but it certainly wasnt part of the plan to build it for the current formation. If you play 3 centre backs, you really need 6 in total. We have Wharton and McLoughlin, 2 who are not great and both left footed. Carter is a waste of time. Miller isnt the best. And that is literally all we have, so not only is there not enough quality but absolutely no depth. 1 injury and we have to change formation. Up front, we have 2 strikers, one comes off and we have to change or stick midfielders up front.

The crowds have been terrible because its half term is a new one.

Im specifically telling you that I am not writing him off. He wasnt close to the first team before he went out, hes getting experience as a younger player at a lower league club, might be good for the future, not the answer to essentially replace Hyam now. Even you were fuming when Hyam was sold without replacement, now you are advocating O'Riordan as his replacement. Talk about standards. You clearly have a far greater opinion of the squad Gestede has built compared to everyone else. Yet, dont seem to think that Ismael needs to go for underachieving.

No, I am clearly not writing him off. Our defence is massively worse than it was last season, obviously with the losses in the summer especially flogging Hyam without replacing him. Merely recalling someone who was nowhere near the first team from a loan in League 1 will not rectify those defensive issues. I think we are 2 short, especially if we play a back 5. We need proper Championship quality defenders. We are struggling to keep clean sheets with our current sub par, IMO imbalanced back line. Do you think the current squad is of a quality that should be higher than 21st?